Coltart warns Ryder Cup WAGs to brace for Bethpage crowd

Former European Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart warned ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black that the atmosphere could be hostile for players' partners. He cited Brookline in 1999, when some wives and girlfriends were subjected to abuse from the crowd, describing it as derogatory and excessive. Coltart said he advised the WAGs to consider watching from a safe, secure room, though he acknowledged they would rather be in the stands to support their partners.

Bethpage Black in Long Island is known for a rowdy crowd, and European players have voiced concern about the ambience in New York, where Europe beat the Americans two years ago in Rome. Wives and girlfriends often wear the same team colors as the players and travel with them, making them highly visible. Coltart described the atmosphere as a cauldron of fire, with the crowd’s 13th man tribal and febrile as American supporters bay for blood.

The caution echoes past incidents documented by players’ families. Stefan Schauffele, the German-born father of American Xander Schauffele, recalled seeing fans directing derisive language at Shane Lowry’s wife at Whistling Straits in 2020, and said he would skip this year’s Ryder Cup as a result. Still, there has been no indication that this year’s WAGs plan to skip, and organizers stress crowd management and player safety ahead of the event.

With the Ryder Cup set to begin next week, players and their families must balance work and personal safety as the rivalry plays out on the fairways and greens of Bethpage. Coltart’s warning focused on preparation and awareness for everyone involved, underscoring the responsibility of fans, stewards, and organizers to keep the atmosphere from eclipsing sport.